WI local: YMPC deny Spartan

A defiant eighth-wicket stand between Roger Coward and Ryan Paul spoiled Big B Spartan's chance of a victory and earned Caribbean Lumber YMPC a draw in a match dominated by the Parkites.

Coming together in the last hour, with the visitors 161 for seven, Coward and Paul resisted the home team's bid for full points with sensible batting against a combined spin and pace attack.

Their lower-order resistance also ensured that opener Adrian Jones' 65 and Wendell Coppin's 40 were not in vain as the game tilted in Spartan's favour for most of the day.

Coward, unbeaten on 27, batted for over two hours to ensure YMPC's survival when at one stage Spartan looked capable of closing out the match.

Earlier, Spartan added 57 to their overweek second innings total and declared for the second time in the game, on 72 for four, leaving the visitors a target of 217 for victory.

YMPC started positively as openers Adrian Jones and Adrian Graham put on 24 for the first wicket and captain William Lashley (18) and Jones added another 37 for the second wicket.

Once Lashley was caught off leg-spinner Dave Marshall, the aggressive Coppin joined Jones and they gave the innings momentum with a 63-run third-wicket partnership that caused some concern to the home team.

However, Spartan re-gained their grip as Coppin was caught off Aaron Barker and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took four quick wickets as his penetration served to raise the home team's hopes.

Much to their dismay, Coward and Paul later combined to dash them.